I had the worst crush on Mikey Pierce's dad. As excited as I was to graduate high school and go away to college, what I looked forward to more was returning home a grown man who might fit in with the guys Mr. Pierce invited over for poker at his place. Whenever I spent the night at Mikey's, I always wanted to join in their game.<br><br>The week before leaving for college, I stayed at Mikey's one last time. While Mr. Pierce and his buddies gambled, Mikey and I stole a couple of beers and watched movies upstairs. By the time it was my turn to sneak downstairs to get more drinks, the card game was over and I thought all the visitors had left.<br><br>But Mr. Pierce was in the dining room. He wasn't alone. The man in there with him owed Mr. Pierce a couple hundred bucks from playing cards, and I had a ring-side seat as he paid up.

My Best Friend's Dad

I had just enough time to press myself back


into the corner between the wall and counter before he hit the door


with one hand, bouncing it off the track and pushing it out of his


way. Fortunately it unfolded as it struck the counter, hiding me


from view, but I cowered behind it as he crossed the kitchen


hitching up his pants. Oh God. Had he seen me? Did he know?


If he turned on the light it’d all be over. Then he’d turn to put


the door back on its track and find me here. He’d know…


But he didn’t hit the light switch. Instead


he took the stairs heading onto the lower level of the house, his


footsteps heavy in the darkness. I held my breath, waiting, until


his back disappeared down the stairwell, and I didn’t dare release


it until I heard the bathroom door slam shut.


I barely managed to thank God before the door


was folded aside and RC stood there, that crooked grin of his


“I…” My throat closed as the words dried up


Chapter 18